TAMPA, Fla. – David DeJulius finished with a game-high 24 points, Jeremiah Davenport scored 14 and the University of Cincinnati men's basketball team held off South Florida 70-59 Wednesday night at the Yuengling Center.
Mike Saunders Jr. added 10 points, as the Bearcats improved to 16-7, 6-4 in American Athletic Conference play, with eight regular-season games remaining.
Picking up where he left off Sunday (game-high 25 points against Houston), DeJulius scored three of UC's first four baskets and assisted on the other.
More:Playing with renewed confidence, David DeJulius steps into go-to role for UC Bearcats
The 6-foot senior scored 13 of UC's first 18 points before his teammates got going.
USF (7-15, 2-8) took a 24-22 lead with just over five minutes to play in the first half. But the Bearcats closed the opening frame on a 13-2 run and went into intermission with a 35-26 advantage. Saunders and John Newman III both knocked down 3-pionters to spark the surge.
Cincinnati made six of its 11 3-point attempts in the first half, including four by DeJulius.
The Bearcats opened the second half with sloppy play, committing five quick turnovers and clearing a path for the Bulls to rally.
South Florida knotted the score at 38-38 with 14:44 to play. Sam Hines Jr., who led USF with 12 points off the bench, then drove inside for a layup to give the Bulls a 40-38 lead at the 14:01 mark.
Hines' basket capped a 12-1 USF run.
Davenport stopped the spurt with a 3-point basket that put the Bearcats ahead for good with 13:30 remaining.
UC led by as many as 13 in the second half.
Wednesday marked the first of four games for the Bearcats in a nine-day span. Cincinnati will stay on the road Saturday to face Tulsa (7-15, 1-10). Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
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